U.S. patent number 6,030,290 [Application Number 08/880,520] was granted by the patent office on 2000-02-29 for momentary contact motion switch for video games.
Invention is credited to Donald E Powell.
United States Patent |
6,030,290 |
Powell |
February 29, 2000 |
Momentary contact motion switch for video games
Abstract
A momentary contact motion switch (12) comprising a structure
(14) for attaching the momentary contact motion switch (12) to a
limb (16) of a person (18). A facility (20) is for connecting the
momentary contact motion switch (12) to a video game unit (22),
which is coupled to a television monitor (24). When the person (18)
move their limb (16) and activates the momentary contact motion
switch (12) a martial arts fighter (26) in a martial arts video
game (27) will move a matching limb (28), that will be displayed on
the television monitor (24).
Inventors: |
Powell; Donald E (Wailuku,
HI) |
Family
ID: |
25376457 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/880,520 |
Filed: |
June 24, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/36;
200/DIG.2; 273/148B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
13/06 (20130101); G06F 3/011 (20130101); A63F
13/235 (20140902); H01H 35/14 (20130101); A63F
13/833 (20140902); A63F 13/212 (20140902); A63F
2300/1012 (20130101); A63F 2300/1037 (20130101); A63F
2300/105 (20130101); A63F 2300/8029 (20130101); H01H
9/0214 (20130101); H01H 2009/0221 (20130101); Y10S
200/02 (20130101); H01H 3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
13/06 (20060101); A63F 13/02 (20060101); G06F
3/00 (20060101); H01H 35/14 (20060101); H01H
3/02 (20060101); H01H 3/14 (20060101); H01H
9/02 (20060101); A63F 009/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;463/36,37,38,39
;273/148B ;200/DIG.2,DIG.9,DIG.23 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: O'Neill; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kroll; Michael I.
Claims
What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. A momentary contact motion switch for use with a video game unit
comprising:
a) means for attaching said momentary contact motion switch to a
limb of a person;
b) means for connecting said momentary contact motion switch to a
video game unit which is coupled to a television monitor, so when
the person moves a limb and activates said momentary contact motion
switch a martial arts fighter in a martial arts video game will
move a matching limb, that will be displayed on the television
monitor;
c) said momentary contact motion switch having means to record
certain motions of said limb comprising a rectangular enclosure, a
stationary contact arm mounted within said enclosure extending
substantially the full interior width of said enclosure, an
elongated movable contact arm pivoted about a pin at one end
extending substantially parallel to said stationary contact arm in
the resting position of said movable arm, and a coiled spring
attached between a free end of said movable contact arm and said
enclosure such that said movable contact arm will move from its
resting position to elongate said spring to engage said stationary
contact arm to close said momentary contact motion switch when the
limb of the person is thrust forward and stops, said elongated
contact arm returning to its resting position after the motion of
said limb stops; and
d) said attaching means being a band on said enclosure that extends
around a limb of the person to secure said enclosure to said limb,
said limb being a wrist in one instance to simulate a punch and
said limb being an ankle in another instance to simulate a kick,
said kick or punch being displayed on said television monitor.
2. A momentary contact motion switch as recited in claim 1, wherein
said connecting means includes:
a) a first elongate wire extending from said stationary contact arm
out through said enclosure to a first joy stick control port on the
video game unit; and
b) a second elongate wire extending from said movable contact arm
out through said enclosure to a second joy stick control port on
the video game unit.
3. A momentary contact motion switch as recited in claim 1, wherein
said connecting means includes:
a) a radio/infrared transmitter on said enclosure;
b) a first wire extending from said stationary contact arm to said
radio/infrared transmitter;
c) a second wire extending from said movable contact arm to said
radio/infrared transmitter; and
d) a radio/infrared receiver in the video game unit to receive a
radio/infrared signal from said radio/infrared transmitter, when
said momentary contact motion switch goes into a closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to hand control apparatuses
and more specifically it relates to a momentary contact motion
switch. The momentary contact motion switch can be strapped to the
wrist or ankle of a person, to operate a martial arts video game
when the person punches or kicks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous hand control apparatuses have been provided in prior art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,836 to Rackson; U.S. Pat. No.
4,613,139 to Robinson II; U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,372 to Quick et al.;
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,362 to Ullman et al. all are illustrative
of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the
particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as
suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore
described.
RACKSON, CHESTER R.
HAND HELD FINGER CONTROLLED SWITCH DEVICE WITH FLEXIBLE WRIST STRAP
MOUNT
U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,836
A control device for apparatus is adapted for support on the fourth
finger of an operator's hand, has a housing of contoured shape to
fit in the palm of the hand. A loop extends outwardly of one end of
the housing for receiving and encircling the base of the fourth
finger. Switches or other control units in the housing have
operating members extending upwardly of the housing for operation
by third and fourth fingers. The holder is connected to the housing
integrally or separably. The holder may include a wrist band and
strap integrally or separably connected together. Barb and loop
fastener members may adjustable connect the strap and housing. Loop
members to engage the back of the hand can be integral with the
strap or with the housing. The holder can have a fingerless
glove-like form with integral wrist band, strap and back
portion.
ROBINSON, II, WILLIAM H.
VIDEO CONTROL GLOVES
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,139
Apparatus for providing switch closure control inputs to a joy
stick control port of a video console, comprising a pair of gloves
having separate finger and thumb portions with electrical contacts
mounted on the palm surfaces thereof adjacent to the finger and
thumb tips. The electrical contacts are connected to selected
terminals of a connector adapter for removable insertion into the
console control port. Physical contact between the finger and thumb
tips obtains electrical connection between associated contacts, so
as to provide switch closure control inputs to associated terminals
of the control port.
QUICK, DUSTY L.
ESTMAN, JAY M.
BOLES, JOHN A.
PORTABLE TRANSACTION TERMINAL FOR OPTICAL AND KEY ENTRY OF DATA
WITHOUT KEYBOARDS AND MANUALLY ACTUATED SCANNERS
U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,372
To increase the efficiency of personnel conducting inventory
management operations, including data entry of products and
information as to their absence, presence or location, the operator
is provided with a glove having finger sheaths and a portion for
the posterior or dorsal surface of the hand which covers that
surface. A bar code reader is located in a housing on the cover and
flexural strain gauge elements are located in the sheaths in the
vicinity of the joints of the fingers. Signals form these elements
are digitized and provide for manual data entry and also for
commands to operate the bar code reader. The glove and the sensors
constitute a portable transaction or data entry terminal which does
not require manual actuation of a trigger to operate the bar code
scanner or a keyboard for manual entry of data concerning the
products to be managed. Electronics for processing signals from the
sensors, for operating a display to indicate the data entered upon
selective movement of the fingers between flexion and extension and
from the bar code reading operations, are all contained in a
housing which also contains the bar code reader.
ULLMAN, NOAH T.
ULLMAN, ADAM N.
APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VIDEO GAME
U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,362
A hand attachment is lined above and below a wrist portion with
parallel conductive contacts. One set of contacts is connected to a
signal generator which generates control signals for moving
characters in a video game. The second set of contacts is connected
to the video game. Placing the hand at an angle selectively
connects the contacts, sending the desired direction control signal
to the video game. Conductive contacts are also located on the
thumb and fingertips. Placing the thumb in contact with any of the
fingertips connects a static signal generator to the video game.
The hand attachment may be a glove or a wrist cuff. The control
signals generated by the hand attachment may be wirelessly
transmitted to the video game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a momentary
contact motion switch that will overcome the shortcomings of the
prior art devices.
Another object is to provide a momentary contact motion switch that
can be strapped to a wrist or ankle of a person which will close an
electric circuit when moved in a specific manner, so as to operate
the martial arts video game when the person punches or kicks.
An additional object is to provide a momentary contact motion
switch in which the switch can be connected to the video game unit
by wires in a first version, or can be connected to the video game
unit by radio or infrared transmission in a second version that is
wireless.
A further object is to provide a momentary contact motion switch
that is simple and easy to use.
A still further object is to provide a momentary contact motion
switch that is economical in cost to manufacture.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the instant
invention strapped to a wrist of a person in use with a video
game.
FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the first embodiment strapped to
an ankle of a person in use with a video game.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the area in FIG. 1 as
indicated by arrow 2, with parts broken away and in section.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3,
with parts broken away and in section.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic top view showing a second embodiment of
the instant invention being a wireless version.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a momentary contact motion switch
12. A structure 14 is for attaching the momentary contact motion
switch 12 to a limb 16 of a person 18. A facility 20 is for
connecting the momentary contact motion switch 12 to a video game
unit 22, which is coupled to a television monitor 24. When the
person 18 moves their limb 16 and activates the momentary contact
motion switch 12, a martial arts fighter 26 in a martial arts video
game 27 will move a matching limb 28, that will be displayed on the
television monitor 24.
The momentary contact motion switch 12 includes an enclosure 30. A
stationary contact arm 32 is mounted within the enclosure 30. A
movable contact arm 34 is provided. A component 36 is for pivotally
affixing the movable contact arm 34 within the enclosure 30. The
movable contact arm 34 will engage with the stationary contact arm
32 to close the momentary contact motion switch 12, when the limb
16 of the person 18 is thrust forward and stops.
A spring 38 is connected between the enclosure 30 and the movable
contact arm 34. The spring 38 will return the movable contact arm
34 back to its original position, to open the momentary contact
motion switch 12.
The enclosure 30 is fabricated out of a non-conductive material 40,
to insulate the stationary contact arm 32 from the movable contact
arm 34. The pivotally affixing component 36 is a pivot pin 42 that
extends through one end of the movable contact arm 34 and into the
enclosure 30.
The enclosure 30 consists of a bottom wall 44. A pair of side walls
46 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 44. A pair of end walls 48
extend upwardly from the bottom wall 44. A top wall 50 extends over
the side walls 46 and the end walls 48.
The attaching structure 14 is a band 52 on the enclosure 30, that
extends about a region 54 on the limb 16 of the person 18. The band
52 is sized to snugly retain the momentary contact motion switch 12
against the region 54 of the limb 16 of the person 18. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the limb 16 is an arm 56, while the region 54 is a
wrist 58, so that the person 18 can simulate a punch. In FIG. 1a,
the limb 16 is a leg 60, while the region 54 is an ankle 62, so
that the person 18 can simulate a kick.
In FIGS. 1 to 3, the connecting facility 20 comprises a first
elongate wire 64 extending from the stationary contact arm 32 out
through the enclosure 30 to a first joy stick control port (not
shown) on the video game unit 22. A second elongate wire 66 extends
from the movable contact arm 34 out through the enclosure 30 to a
second joy stick control port (not shown) on the video game unit
22.
The connecting facility 20 in FIG. 5, consists of a radio or
infrared transmitter 68 on the enclosure 30. A first wire 70
extends from the stationary contact arm 32 to the radio or infrared
transmitter 68. A second wire 72 extends from the movable contact
arm 34 to the radio or infrared transmitter 68. A radio or infrared
receiver 74 is in the video game unit 22 to receive a radio or
infrared signal 76 from the radio or infrared transmitter 68, when
the momentary contact motion switch 12 goes into a closed
position.
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
To use the momentary contact motion switch 12 as shown in FIG. 1,
the following steps should be taken:
1. Place the band 52 about the wrist 58 on the arm 56 of the person
18.
2. Plug the first and second elongate wires 64 and 66 into the
first and second joy stick control ports on the video game unit
22.
3. Allow the person 18 to simulate a punch to close the momentary
contact motion switch 12, so that the martial arts fighter 26 in
the martial arts video game 27 will move a matching limb 28 being
an arm, which will be displayed on the television monitor 24.
To use the momentary contact motion switch 12, as shown in FIG. 1a,
the following steps should be taken:
1. Place the band 52 about the ankle 62 on the leg 60 of the person
18.
2. Plug the first and second elongate wires 64 and 66 into the
first and second joy stick control ports on the video game unit
22.
3. Allow the person 18 to simulate a kick to close the momentary
contact motion switch 12, so that the martial arts fighter 26 in
the martial arts video game 27 will move a matching limb 28 being a
leg, which will be displayed on the television monitor 24.
To use the momentary contact motion switch 12 for the arm 56 of the
person 18, as shown in FIG. 5, the following steps should be
taken:
1. Place the band 52 about the wrist 58 on the arm 56 of the person
18.
2. Allow the person 18 to simulate a punch to close the momentary
contact motion switch 12, which will cause the radio or infrared
transmitter 68 to send the radio or infrared signal 76 to the radio
or infrared receiver 74 in the video game unit 22, so that the
martial arts fighter 26 in the martial arts video game 27 will move
a matching limb 28 being an arm, which will be displayed on the
television monitor 24.
To use the momentary contact motion switch 12 for the leg 60 of the
person 18, as shown in FIG. 5, the following steps should be
taken:
1. Place the band 52 about the ankle 62 on the leg 60 of the person
18.
2. Allow the person 18 to simulate a kick to close the momentary
contact motion switch 12, which will cause the radio or infrared
transmitter 68 to send the radio or infrared signal 76 to the radio
or infrared receiver 74 in the video game unit 22, so that the
martial arts fighter 26 in the martial arts video game 27 will move
a matching limb 28 being a leg, which will be displayed on the
television monitor 24.
______________________________________ LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
______________________________________ 12 momentary contact motion
switch 14 attaching structure of 12 16 limb of 18 18 person 20
connecting facility of 12 22 videogame unit 24 television monitor
26 martial arts fighter in 28 27 martial arts video game 28
matching limb of 26 30 enciosure of 12 32 stationary contact arm of
12 34 movabie contact arm of 12 36 pivotally affixing component of
12 38 spring of 12 40 non-conductive material of 12 42 pivot pin
for 36 44 bottomn wall of 30 46 side wall of 30 48 end wall of 30
50 top wall of 30 52 band of 14 54 region of 16 56 arm for 16 58
wrist for 54 60 leg for 16 62 ankle for 54 64 first elongate wire
of 20 between 22 and 32 66 second elongate wire of 20 between 22
and 34 68 radio or infrared transmitter of 20 on 30 70 first wire
of 20 between 32 and 68 72 second wire of 20 between 34 and 68 74
radio or infrared receiver of 20 in 22 76 radio or infrared signal
between 68 and 74 ______________________________________
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together may also find a useful application in other
types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and
described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended
to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood
that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in
the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its
operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing
in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current
knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly
constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of this invention.
* * * * *